The production of Saloio olive oil is undertaken in Serpa and Estremoz. Both production mills are located in strategically strong areas, since these two regions have the greatest area of olive groves in Portugal, where approximately 60% of Portuguese olive oil is produced – Upper and Lower Alentejo. This geographic position enables it to ensure an authentic Portuguese olive oil in great quantity and quality from the best olive-growing zone in the country.
The company Est. Manuel da Silva Torrado & Cª. (Irmãos), S.A., was established in Monforte, Castelo Branco, in 1878, founded by Manuel da Silva Torrado when he was only 20 years old, beginning his activity as a Merchant in Lisbon. In 1911, along with his brothers, he established the company Manuel da Silva Torrado & Cª. (Irmãos), Lda, a firm that, on 14 February 1946, would become a limited liability company with the current name. Aware of the quality and refinement of his region’s olive oils, Manuel da Silva Torrado decided to take this delicacy to Lisbon. It was a success! This victory created obligations and, as the market grew, a more rigorous selection was made from olive groves in the region to ensure his olive oil was always the best.
The need arose to find not only an olive oil of great quality, but also packaging that ensured the olive oil reached the consumer with all of its virtues and attributes intact. Therefore, the tin packaging was created to preserve and protect all of the olive oil’s properties. The Saloio brand is a representation of the local people who, like Manuel da Silva Torrado, took their best agricultural products from the region surrounding Lisbon to sell in the capital. After creating the packaging and brand, the olive oil had to be disseminated and promoted in new markets. This task was carried out by Portuguese emigrants who took our olive oil abroad. This made Saloio one of the most well known and widely consumed olive oils in countries all over the world where Portuguese communities settled, thus making it a symbol of Portugal.
